Laughter is the best medicine!!!

Here are a few clips from youtube that are sure to tickle your funny bone!

 

 

A moment of fun…

Tackiest Tourist Traps…?

I found this today and thought it would be great chance to reach out and discover some non-tacky, maybe even inexpensive and under rated places to visit in the U.S.  I’m pretty sure we all have those little local places that we like to visit that we think are incredible treasures or just plain fun especially for the price.  Down here in Florida we have a lot of natural (& COLD) springs that the state has made parks around.  If you can handle cold water, there is really a lot to see and appreciate while you are there.  It’s really cool if you have a motor home because then the overnight stays are 1/4 the price of a hotel and you have your bathroom with you when you travel.

So, how about it?  Will you share your favorite local spots with me?  I love caverns, have any near you?  Let’s see what is hiding out there that the masses don’t get to know about.

By the way, in regards to the ‘Tackiest’ article…I have a fondness for the ‘South of the Border’.  When I was a child, my family would stop there every year on the way to NY from FL.  Ok, so…ummm…maybe 30+ years ago it was waaayy cooler than it is now. But who knows, your (young) kids will probably love it, and truthfully, what else matters?

Thanks for stopping by and God Bless!

 

Protect your children

Ok, we all know how important it is for us to protect our children.  We are always trying to find ways to keep them safe (even if it is only from themselves).  Following is a link that I have seen before and it occured to me that I should post it here for a couple of reasons.

1. It is a MAJOR tool for peace of mind.
2. What better way to share this with the people I care about.
3. This way I will know how to find it when I need it without having to keep it in my favorites or saving the email.

Anyway, go to the link for FamilyWatchDog and put in your address.  Some of you may have seen this before but if you haven’t, you are going to be amazed, angry and maybe even horrified at what you find (or should I say who you find?) in your neighborhood.

I hope this helps keep your child safe.  Take care & God Bless!

 

 

Wow…an epiphany…a tribute

Have you ever have an a-ha moment? You know, one of those moments when things become crystal clear to you? Well, a dear friend of mine had one today and it reminded me of one that I have had recently. Very similar to hers. Mrs. F, you know who you are and I want to thank you for reminding me about those moments when clarity takes over. You see, I have lived most of my life just like you…always having a way out…a plan B.

It seems to me that when you always have a way out, you never truly let yourself enjoy or accept what you have. For example, for many, many years throughout my marriage, I would always make a note of any ‘for rent’ signs I saw. Especially ‘room for rent’. I did this because I knew that my marriage would not last so I needed to have a place to go when it finally fell apart. Until I put my trust and faith into my relationship with my husband, there was never going to be one. I’ve done the same thing just recently with our business. Always staying listed with a temp agency “just in case” the business didn’t make it. But how am I supposed to show my husband that I have faith in him if I don’t support him 100%. How am I supposed to show God that I trust Him if I don’t turn over 100% of my fears, worries and struggles? The answer to both of those questions is “I can’t!” I can’t prove anything if I don’t believe it myself. This was finally clear to me just a couple of days ago. And now, my dear friend has had it become clear to her as well with the help of another trusted friend.

And so, Mrs F, this one is for you. Thank you for sharing your struggles and for sharing your highlights. You are a great person and you DO deserve everything that GOD has given you.

To anyone else struggling with issues such as these, remember, the proof is not always where it seems it should be. But we have to remember to keep looking and to keep believing. It was put much better in the video below that was shared by my friend…I hope you enjoy it as much as I did…here is…’Proof’

 

How true is this???

Since the Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord’s Prayer are not allowed in most public schools anymore
because the word ‘God’ is mentioned….
Supposedly…A 15 yr old kid in Arizona wrote the following:

NEW School prayer :

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That’s no offense; it’s a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God’s name is prohibited by the state.

We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They’ve outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the ‘unwed daddy,’ our Senior King.
It’s ‘inappropriate’ to teach right from wrong,
We’re taught that such ‘judgments’ do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It’s scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school’s a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen

 

Woo Hoo!! We did it!!

Since the beginning of January, my dog, Mocha, and I have been in training for an organization in my church called Canine Crusaders. The group trains dogs, and their owners, how to behave in a nursing home in order to go visit the residents there. Well today was the final test…and we PASSED!!!! I had no fears over my dog doing well, but I was certain I would fail pathetically. While I was extremely nervous, I guess I managed myself well enough to make it!!

Now, this is a definite case of God taking me out of my comfort zone, which a lot of us may be very familiar with. I am VERY uncomfortable around the people in nursing homes, well actually around any truly sick person. I just feel so helpless and it completely breaks my heart to see the residents in there who have no one come see them. I can not imagine what it must be like to be left alone like that. Then there are the ones who no longer know what is going on around them. When their minds fail them. It just makes it impossible for me to breathe. So now, here I go, into one of the most uncomfortable places I could find myself. And yet, everytime I have tried to find a way to get out of it, God lets me know that it is not an option. {{Heavy sigh}}

So do His bidding I will. With faith in my heart and His strength in my soul. I will do it and I will survive. He will show me I am strong with Him.

Thanks for stopping by. Take care & God Bless.
Jena

 

The things we take for granted.

I sit here today in my own little piece of the world and thank God for the many blessings I have, especially those I take for granted daily. I have an amazing husband, he is gentle, loving, patient (most of the time LOL) but most of all he has never given up on me. I have two HEALTHY kids, who, even though they are teenagers, are smart, caring, & good hearted. While we aren’t rich in money, we are truly rich in family and friendships. I get up every morning with no real worries, least of all something as seemingly simple as my kids school. Which leads me to the point of this post…

My sister, the only sibling I have and whom I once thought would never be a real part of my life, has some major struggles. Now, for the most part, she and her family are happy and healthy. However, my nephew is autistic. While that in and of itself is not a major catastrophe, it does present itself in some difficult ways. Right now, they are struggling with what they are going to do with his schooling next year. Middle school changes the rules for him. He is a very smart child and just a joy to be around, and although he needs certain things that aren’t usually offered in middle school, he doesn’t need to placed in a ’special needs only’ school. From what my sister has told me, he has made great progress being around ‘normal’ kids (is there such a thing???) Then you have to factor in that middle school students have a very bad rep for being the meanest of all ages. It is a proven fact, that middle schoolers, with all the changes they face, are just not nice.

Anyway, all this to say that I feel helpless in this situation. I can NOT imagine what my sister is going through. I can only pray for God to guide them and show them the right path for my nephew. It wouldn’t hurt if you said a prayer for them too, if you feel so inclined. They would welcome the care and concern. And while we each face our own daily struggles, take a minute to look at them, REALLY look at them and see if they are as bad as they seem or only bad to us. (wait!! before you throw tomatoes at me) I realize of course that there are real problems out there and I’m not saying that the problems you are facing are not valid or real. What I am saying is, if you are like me and your problems consist of a dirty house, lack of money at times and maybe even depression, then look to someone around you. Think about the friend who has a child with pretty bad health issues, or the sister who would do anything to protect her son and help him grow any way he can. Yes, your problems are real. But are they insurmountable? Are they life altering? Or are they just a pain in the rear end?

No matter what our problems are, if we give them over to God, He will help us. He may not always give us they help we want, but He will give us what He knows we need. I will keep all of you in my daily prayers. Take care and God Bless.

 

Where does it come from…

…this darkness inside? How is it not there one second and then overwhelming the next? Don’t get me wrong, for right now I am good, I’m in a good place. But there are times when I just am not. I’m not the only one like that either. It just makes me wonder, where does it come from and where does it go when we finally overcome it’s grasp. And why can’t we seem to send it away forever?

I see it as those pesky little demons that Satan chooses to throw at us at the slightest sign of distress. He will do anything to bring us down. But God’s angels are far greater than the demons that attack me, I just have to believe in them to get their help. Sound simple? You’d think it would be cake. But it’s not. Self doubt, fear, loneliness, anger…all these things make us lose our grip on our faith.

My pain and despair are tough to get through sometimes, but it is when I see my friends in the same place that it really hurts. It tears my heart out to know someone else is in a place I have been in and I know that there is not much I can do but be there. That’s it…just… BE THERE. That feeling of helplessness is almost crippling. But I just hang on tight, let them know that I AM there and then pray. Pray that they find a way out of their darkness and pray that I don’t fail them.

Friends are truly hard to find. When you find one(s) that you can trust, you would do anything for them. I have found a few of these in my lifetime. Mostly since I began my walk with Jesus (do you think THAT is a coincidence?) and I treasure each one individually. I would do anything within my ability to help them in any way I could.

To my friends out there, you know who you are, know that I thank God everyday for putting you in my life and that I would truly do anything for you.

Pastor Gary, you are one of the most amazing people I have ever met, I can’t imagine the struggles you face daily and yet you always ’seem’ ready to help anyone, no matter what the cost to you. I’ve seen your human side, I know you have bad days, I know that you still get your faith tested daily. I hope you know that my family will be there for you no matter what, just like you have been there for us. I will never be able to put into words what happened to my heart the night you came to the hospital when my husband and son were hit by that drunk driver.

Wherever life takes us, wherever we go,
share a smile with a stranger, a simple hello.
Extend your hand to help another get through
the next one to need help could be you.

Thanks for coming by, have a great day and God Bless,
Jena

 

And time marches on…

Well, tomorrow I will be 39. Monday, my son will be 18. I just can’t figure out where all this time went and why I feel like I am still in the same place I started. Well, not exactly, as since we started giving our lives to Jesus, we are doing much better, especially me and the hubby! But as for me personally, I still feel like I am floundering. I keep feeling this tug to do something different with my life, but I can’t figure out what that is. I really feel like I need to go to school, but the purpose of the schooling still eludes me. To be truthful, I really feel like I am being called to do some intense spiritual learning. But, again, no idea what the reason is. I also know that I feel the need to learn spanish fluently, but that has multiple reasons as to why.

So, time continues to march on and I continue to find myself lost on the path I am walking. I miss writing as much as I used to, I seem to have abandoned that gift as well. That is why I am here right now. Trying to get the feeling back in head that brings out all the words in my heart.  I also keep getting the feeling that I have a book that needs to be written, but I don’t seem to be able to slow my mind down enough to focus on a subject.

I am blessed with a great family, awesome friends and an amazing mentor in Christ (Gary Shockley, our pastor). So I expect that I should truly stop complaining and just ‘keep moving forward’ (as a wise animation once told me! Hint: Meet the Robinsons). That is another good thing about this site, it gives me a chance to get the thoughts and worries out of my head so I can look at them and see how silly or selfish they appear in the light.

Thanks for coming by, have a great day and God Bless!
Jena

 

Oprah’s Big Give Outrage…

Is anyone else watching this show? If so, are you as outraged and disgusted with the fact that on BOTH episodes of the new show, the people found a soldier who was injured and discharged from service and all but homeless?? What the heck is that about!?!?! Yesterday’s show had a soldier who’s va benefits were cut off!!! Are you kidding me? How does a soldier, active or veteran, lose his/her benefits?!?! How does our government justify any soldier being without a home?!?! This has been tearing at my heart for a couple of weeks now, especially since Extreme Makeover Home Edition (EMHE) has also showcased a couple of soldiers. How do we as a Americans, sit back and allow the people who risk their lives for our freedom, such as the freedom for me to be able to post this message, to go hungry? To go homeless?

The next question is…WHAT can I do about it? How do I make a difference? It was great that a couple of soldiers were helped by the Big Give & EMHE, but what about the ones left undiscovered? Since last night, the phrase: “Bring a Soldier Home” has been running through my head. I feel that God is pressing this into my heart. The phrase means to me, that every soldier should have a home to go to, a safe place to come down from the stress, heartbreak and fears of duty. A soldier should never have to worry about where their family is while they are serving our country (see EMHE’s Lucas family episode) or when they come home from duty, especially those who are injured.

I think I will do some research and see what, if anything, I can do that will make a difference. I can’t just sit here and do nothing, not when these men and women risk (& GIVE) their lives for me and my freedoms. Yours too! Can you keep your blinders on and just ignore what is going on right beside you? If you can, then maybe you don’t deserve the freedom, maybe you don’t deserve to be here, under out flag’s protection. It really is no wonder other countries think we are a joke, that we are spoiled rotten teenagers with no clue as to how good we have it. Because that is how we behave, like spoiled teenagers who know what is best for everyone else, what everyone else’s problem is yet we have no clue what is going on within ourselves.

At any rate, thanks for stopping in and ‘listening’ to my ranting. If you don’t like what I’ve said, then feel free to ‘walk away’ and not look back. I’m not asking you to agree with me, we are all given the FREEDOM to have our own opinions in the country, that is what is so great about it. For the few who used to check in periodically, I’m sorry I have been gone so long. Life just stepped in and moved me in a different direction for awhile, but I have missed my writing time. Have a great week and God Bless!!